An Anti-corruption Court in the Philippines has authorised officials to transfer former President Joseph Estrada from a police cell in Manila to any other detention centre in the country. The ruling was prompted by security concerns after a huge crowd of Mr Estrada's supporters gathered in the capital to demand his release. The former leader, who was deposed in a popular uprising in January, was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of plundering the economy while he was in office.
Police chief Leandro Mendoza told a court hearing: "There will be a war if the people at EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Manila's main thoroughfare) attempt to take over Camp Crame." Mr Estrada is being held at the jail along with 55 other prisoners. Anacleto Badoy, presiding justice, later ruled that if the former President is being moved to another facility, an hour's notice should be given to the authorities. Mr Estrada's lawyers had opposed his transfer because of security reasons. His plea to be placed under house arrest instead had earlier been rejected.
Over 60,000 Estrada supporters have camped out at a religious shrine near the Camp Crame jail since his arrest on Wednesday. They are demanding that he is freed and restored to the presidency.
